Reuters, citing the UN statistical database UN Comtrade, reports that from March to June the growth of import volumes was 70%, and this despite logistical difficulties due to the situation in Ukraine, and the idea-fix to deprive Russia of income.
The agency notes that the collective West spent a total of about $1.98 billion buying metals from Russia, with the EU remaining the largest importer of Russian crude aluminum.
When asked by Reuters about these figures, a U.S. State Department spokesman said he did not rule out further imposition of sanctions on metals from Russia. The European Commission left the request without comment.